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Man nabbed for skinny dipping in moat that rings the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Tue Oct 7, 11:18 AM
By Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
TOKYO - Police have apprehended a westerner who went skinny dipping in a moat ringing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
The naked middle-aged man attracted a huge crowd as he jumped into the moat, then threw rocks and splashed water at two policemen who chased him in a rowboat. Japanese police said they had no information on the man's identity.
But Public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency say the man is believed to be a 40-year-old Briton living in Spain who visited the moat with several Spanish friends.
TV footage showed the man swimming around the moat as police chased him with a long stick, attracting a crowd of onlookers.
He was in the water for about an hour before getting out and climbing a stone wall only to fall into the hands of waiting police. No word on possible charges.
A palace official said Emperor Akihito was in the palace, but that it was unlikely he saw the nude swimmer.
